Magnetic sweep arm selector for telegraph apparatus



Sept. 39, 3958 J. A. BELLINO 2,354,510

MAGNETIC SWEEP ARM SELECTOR FOR TELEGRAPH APPARATUS.

Filed April 28, 1955 INVENTOR JOSEPH A. BELL INO K V-W ATTpRNEY PatentedSept. 30, 1958 MAGNETIC SWEEP ARM SELECTOR FOR TELEGRAPH APPARATUSJoseph A. Bellino, Chicago, 11]., assignor to Teletype Corporation,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application April 28, 1955,Serial No. 504,497 12 Claims. (Cl. 178-33) This invention relates toselector mechanisms for telegraph apparatus and more particularly to aselector mechanism having means for successively transferring a magneticcircuit to operate on a series of positionable members in timed relationto the receipt of each telegraph signal in a telegraph recordingapparatus.

In the past many diverse types of selector mechanisms have been devisedwherein the received telegraph signals are utilized to position anarmature which functions in conjunction with. a set of rotating cammedsurfaces to position a group of settable members in concordance with thecharacter of the received signal impulses. Usually these cam memberspossess considerable mass thus requiring a considerable amount of powerto overcome inertia and place them in the rotating state. Further, theexpense involved in designing and manufacturing suitable cams is of asignificant amount. Inasmuch as follower elements continually pressagainst the cam surface, thus, wear of these elements requires theirfrequent replacement, hence further increasing the cost.

In order toovercome the disadvantages inherent in the employment ofcams, attempts have been made to produce selectors having a rotatingdistributor, which in turn controls the permutative energization of agroup of electromagnets. However, these attempts have not been entirelysatisfactory because of the increased space requirements of such anarrangement necessitated by the use of a great number of elementalparts. Obviously with an increase in the required number of parts, theexpenses resulting from the use of the rotating distributor type ofselectors are even greater than the totalcost of the single magnetselectors utilizing cams.-

It is a principal object of this invention to provide a simple selectoremploying a minimum number of inexpensive components.

Another object of the invention resides in a highly sensitive selectordevoid of any cams.

A further object of this invention isthe provision of a selectormagnetmechanism for a telegraph recording apparatus wherein a single magnet isenergized in accordance with the receipt of telegraph signal impulsesand simultaneously therewith a paramagnetic member sequentially appliesthe magnetizing force to control the position of a bank of settablemembers.

Another object of the invention resides in a selector mechanism having asingle magnet and a rotatable paramagnetic member to rotate past a bankof control elements in concomitancy with the receipt of a series ofsignal impulses.

In the ensuing description of the invention reference is made to aprinting telegraph apparatus of the type shown in the patent to Mortonet al., No. 1,791,740 dated February 10, 1931, but it is to beunderstood that the principles of the present invention may beadvantageously applied to many other types of telegraph apparatus. Thispatented disclosure is thereby incorporated by reference, however, onlyso much of the disclosure of the patent is included herein as to makethepresent invention readily comprehendible.

With these and other objects in view the present invention contemplatesa telegraph signal recorder of the type wherein each element of astart-stop Baudot code signal controls a common selector magnet toefiect a permutative positionment of a group of mechanical elements tocontrol the functioning of the recording mechanism whereby a permanentcharacteristic record is made of each signal. More particularly when astart signal is received, a sweep arm, made of low reluctance material,is released to be thereafter successively positioned in register withindividual latches of a group. As the sweep arm passes each latch, theselector magnet is simultaneously energized in accordance wtih thereceipt of each successive signal element. When a marking or currentsignal is received and the sweep arm is in register withthe latch, thenamagnetic field is established through the low reluctance arm to apply amag'nemotive force to attract the registered latch. When a no current orspacing signal is received, no magnetizing effect is present; hence thelatch positioned in register with the sweep arm remains in the latchedcondition. By the time the last element of a signal is receivedthelatches are released in a permutative fashion in accordance with thepermutative arrangement of marking impulses received in the selectormagnet. The permutative positionment of the latches thereafter controlsthe recording apparatus to' accordingly function and make acharacteristic record of the signal.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention may be apparentfrom the following detaileddescription when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is' a side elevational view of a magnetic sweep arm selectorembodying the principal features of the present invention;

Fig.2 is a side view looking'at th'emagneti'c' sweep arm and a bank oflatches adapted to be controlledby operation of the selector mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows, and illustratesa clutch trip armrestoring device; and

Fig. 4 is-a modified embodiment. of a clutch trip 01f mechanism adaptedto be operated by thereceiptof a start or nocurrent impulse when thesweep' arm is in the stop position.

Referring to Fig; 1 there is shown a selector magnet 10 having a core 11adapted to receive the'wellknown start-top Baudot code signals, that is,each signal consists of a no current or start impulse, a series of fivepermutatively arranged'marking or spacing impulses anda'stop impulsewhich is'invariably' of a marking or current characteristic. Looking atFig; 2 the outline of a core 11 is shown and it is tobe observedth'a'tthis core is of an elongated, oval shape. the core is a plurality 14,15, lfi and 17, mounted in pivotalfashion about a pivot rod 19: Each ofthe positionable members has formed thereon an enlarged portion 21 toprovide an area which is readily attractable toa magnetizing force."

Looking at Fig; 2 the left-hand positionable member 12'=which maybedesignateda startiarmhas an'upwardly extending. shank portion 22, the"extremity of which has a roller 23 rotatably mounted thereon that isadapted to ride on a lower cam surfaceof atrip latch 24' (see Fig. 1).Cooperatingwith an upwardly extending portion 26 of 77:formed on aclutchmernber 72. Clutch member'72 is urged by a spring toward the leftinto engage ment with clutch member 71, however, the projecting portion26: operating Positioned in lateral register with of positionableelements 12,"13,'

'the trip latch 24 is a cam 'lug' forces member 72 toward the rightthereby precluding the engagement of the clutch teeth and hencepreventing the transmission of power from a rotating power shaft 68,through a worm 69, through a worm wheel 70, through the clutch members71 and 72 to a driven shaft 36. Shaft 36 is adapted to control thefunctioning of a printing telegraph apparatus such as shown in theafore-identified Morton etal. patent. The reference numbers 36, 68, 69,70, 71, 72, 75 and 77 are also used in the Morton et al. patent and arereadily discernable in Fig. 13 of that patent wherein identical elementsare designated.

The other positionable members 13 through 17, inclusive, have formednear their lower extremities a latch surface 27 adapted to cooperatewith one trailing extremity of a bank of bell crank shaped selectorelements 86 (identical to the selector elements shown in Fig. 13 of theMorton et al. patent). As described in the Morton et al. patent when theselector elements 86 are permutatively positioned, and the shaft 36 isplaced in a rotative condition the recording apparatus executes a cycleof operation to record a character in accordance with the permutativesetting of the selector elements 86.

Mounted on the shaft 36 is a pinion 28 adapted to impart movementthrough a second pinion 29 to a gear 30 which in turn causes a shaft 31to commence rotation. Secured to the left-hand extremity of shaft 31, asshown in Fig. 1, is a hub 32 having a series of four arms 40, 41, 42 and43 radiating therefrom. With the apparatus in the stop position such asshown in Figs. 1 and 2 the arm 40 is interposed between the startpositionable element 12 and the left-hand portion of the core 11. It isto be noted from Fig. 2 that the second arm 41 is positioned out ofregister with the right-hand positionable member 17, hence theestablishment of a magnetic field through the core 11 results in thefield being concentrated to pass through the arm 40 rather than throughthe arm 41, due to the relatively short air gap between the core and arm40 and the relatively large air gap between core 11 and arm 41. The arms40 to 43, inclusive, are made of a material having good paramagneticproperties.

Considering now the operation of the selector mechanism, it is well tonote that in the stop or idle position the selector magnet is normallyenergized hence a magnetic field extends through the core 11, throughthe arm 40 to operate on the enlarged portion of the positionable member12 thereby holding this element drawn up against the action of a spring44. When a signal impulse indicative of a start or no current conditionis received by the selector magnet 10, the magnetic field is destroyedand the positionable member 12 is pivoted about the pivot rod 19 throughthe agency of the extended spring 44. This movement causes acounterclockwise movement to be imparted to the shank portion 22 to movethe roller 23 from engagement with the high portion of the cam surfaceformed on the lower portion of the trip latch member 24. Trip latchmember 24 thereupon pivots in a counterclockwise direction under theinfluence of a coiled tension spring 45 to withdraw the projection 26from engagement with the stop lug 77. Immediately thereafter the clutchelement 72 is moved through the agency of the compressed spring 75 intoengagement with the clutch member 71 and rotative power is thus impartedto the shaft 36 to drive the pinions 28, 29 and 30, causing the shaft 31to commence rotation.

The pinions 28, 29 and 30 are selected so that a full rotation of theshaft 36 causes only a one quarter revolution of the shaft 31 hence thesweep arm 40 shown in Fig. 2 moves to the position formerly held by thearm 41. Obviously as the shaft 31 rotates, the arm 40 is successivelyinterposed between the positionable members 13 to 17, inclusive, and thecore 11. This movement is accompanied concomitantly with the receipt ofthe intelligence signal impulses.

For purposes of illustration assume that the arm 40 is in register withthe enlarged portion 21 of the posi tionable member 13 and a marking orcurrent impulse is received in the selector magnet, then a lowreluctance path is established through the sweep arm whereby themagnetic force set up by the selector magnet will attract the member 13to cause it to move against the action of a spring 46 thereby moving thelatching surface 27 from the trailing extremities of the selectorelement 86. As described in the Morton et al. patent the elements 86 areheld against a spring force, thus the release of the latch surfacepermits this element to move into what may be termed a selectedposition. It should be noted that the magnetic field set up by a receiptof a marking impulse is not strong enough to attract the otherpositionable members 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 against the action of theirsprings 46 because of the relatively large air gap between the core 11and these other members.

For purposes of description assume that a spacing or a no current signalis received next in the selector magnet 10, thus when the arm 40 is inregister with the enlarged portion of the positionable member 14, therewill be no magnetic field established and the member 14 will be held inposition by its spring 46 to hold the latch surface 27 in engagementwith the trailing extremity of the selector element 86. It will be thusunderstood that when the arm 40 passes the enlarged portion 21 of thepositionable member 17 all the selec tor elements 86 will bepermutatively positioned in accordance with the received signal. Asdescribed in the Morton et al. patent the permutative positionment ofthe selector elements 86 controls the particular type of functionperformed by the printing telegraph re corder.

When the projection 26 is withdrawn from engagement with the lug 77, apin 48 formed integral with the latch member 24 is moved downwardly intoa dotted line position as illustrated in Fig. 3. Pin 48 is positioned inregister with a mouth of a tapering cam surface 49 formed as an integralpart of the clutch member 72. As the clutch member 72 rotates in aclockwise direction the pin 48 will be engaged by the cam surface 49 andgradually moved towards the axis of rotation of the shaft 36. It isapparent that as the pin 48 moves in wardly the projection 26 is movedinto position to engage the lug 77 when the lug 77 has completed asingle revolution. Engagement of the projection 26 with the cam surfaceof lug 77 causes the clutch member 72 to move against the action of itsspring 75 to disrupt the transmission of power to the shaft 36. Thelatch member 24 is maintained in stop position because the arm 43 movesinto register with the enlarged portion 21 of the positionable member 12at the same time that the stop impulse is received and the pin 48 ismoved out of engagement with the cam surface 49. Inasmuch as the pin 48holds the latch member 24 against the action of the spring 45 theenergized selector magnet 10 has only to position the member 12 andshank 22 which are of relatively light mass. When the member 12 is movedtowards the magnet, by the stop impulse, the roller 23 is movedclockwise into engagement with the cam surface of the latch 24 to holdthe same in position until a subsequent start impulse is received in theselector magnet 10.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a positionable clutch trip off member 51 havingan abutment 52 formed thereon in lateral alignment with the core 11 ofthe selector magnet. This positionable member 51 is pivotally mountedabout a stud shaft 53 and is urged in a clockwise direction by a coilspring 54. The core 11, in this embodi-' ment, is U-shaped with thewindings of the magnet 10' around one arm. The other arm 55 has a=positioned plurality of slots 56 formed in its free extremity forpurpose of accommodating therein the lower extremities of thepositionable members 12 to 17. It is to be understood that with themagnet energized and the arm in register with the abutment 52, thepositionable member 51 will be drawn up against the action of the spring54; consequently, the projecting portion 26, similar to the projection26 shown in Fig. l, is in position to engage the stop lug 77 of theclutch member 72. There is also formed on the positionable member 51 apin 48 which is identical to the pin 48 shown in Fig. l and is adaptedto cooperate with a cam surface 49 in the manner described in theoperation of the selector mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The U-shaped core 11 illustrated in Fig. 4 provides a relatively lowreluctance magnetic circuit for the lines of flux when the windings 10are energized. Energization of the magnet 10 to hold the selectormechanism from operation establishes a magnetic field which may betraced through core 11, through arm 55, through the lower portion ofpositionable member 51, through the arm 40 back to the core 11. In alike manner whenever the sWeep arm 40 is in register with any of theother positionable members 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 and the magnet 10 isenergized, a magnetic circuit will be established through the arm 55,through the registered member, through one of the sweep arms 40 to 43,inclusive, and through the core 11. It may thus be appreciated that withthe selector provided with the low reluctance magnetic circuit shown inFig. 4, very rapid selection of positionable members is obtainable withthe utilization of relatively small energizing currents.

It is to be understood that the above-described arrangements ofapparatus and construction of elemental parts are simply illustrative ofan application of the principles of the invention and many othermodifications, alterations, and changes may be made without departingfrom the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a signal responsive device, means for receiving signal impulses, aplurality of positionable members, a low reluctance member movable forpresentation thereof between said signal receiving means and saidpositionable members, means for moving the low reluctance member betweenthe signal receiving means and the positionable members in concurrencewith the receipt of signal impulses in the receiving means and meansdependent upon and controlled by presentation of said low reluctancemember between said signal receiving means in energized condition and apredetermined one of said positionable members for arresting themovement of said low reluctance member.

2. In a signal responsive mechanism, a signal receiving magnetic devicehaving an elongated core, a plurality of movably mounted members spacedfrom the core and in register therewith, a low reluctance member mountedfor movement between the core and the movable members, means for movingsaid low reluctance member between said core and said movably mountedmembers in concurrence with the receipt of a series of signal impulsesin said signal receiving magnetic device, means controlled by theenergization of the signal receiving device and the low reluctancemember for arresting the movement of the low reluctance member after thelow reluctance member passes the last of the movably mounted members.

3. In a signal responsive mechanism, means responsive to start-stopsignals for producing a magnetic field in accordance with the characterof each impulse of each signal, a plurality of movably mounted elementsspaced a suflicient distance from the signal responsive means to preventtheir movement by the establishment of magnetic fields by the signalresponsive means, a low reluctance member adapted to be moved betweensaid signal responsive means and said movably mounted elements, meansfor holding said low reluctance means from movement, means responsive toa start impulse of a signal for releasing said holding means, and meansfor successively moving said low reluctance means between said signalreponsive means and said positional elements in concurrence with thereceipt of each signal impulse.

4. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of positionable elements, amember mounted for movement past said positionable elements, meansincluding a clutch for imparting movement to said member, means fordisengaging said clutch, and signal responsive means including aselector magnet for receiving signals and spaced from said positionableelements for releasing the clutch whereby the member successively movesbetween each element and the selector magnet.

5. In a signal responsive mechanism, normally energized means forreceiving signal impulses, a plurality of positionable elements spacedfrom said receiving means, a low reluctance member mounted for movementbetween said signal receiving means and each successive positionableelement, means including a clutch for moving said low reluctance memberin concurrence with the receipt of each signal impulse, and meanscontrolled by an energization of the signal receiving means and the lowreluctance member for disengaging the clutch.

6. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of latched devices, a clutchcontrolled drive mechanism, a clutch release mechanism normally holdingsaid clutch mechanism in an unoperated condition, a rotary member havinga plurality of arms radiating therefrom, said arms being spaced apartand positioned so that one arm is in register with the clutch releasemechanism, means responsive to a signal impulse for producing a magneticfield to act through said arm to operate said clutch release mechanism,and means actuated by the drive mechanism for successively rotating saidarm past each latched device in concurrence with the receipt of signalimpulses in said signal responsive means.

7. In a signal responsive mechanism, electromagnetic means for receivingsignal impulses, a plurality of selectively positionable elements spacedfrom the electromagnetic means so as to be unselectable by energizationof said electromagnetic means, a clutch controlled drive mechanism, aclutch release mechanism also spaced from the electromagnetic means soas to be unaflFected by energization of said electromagnetic means, amovably mounted low reluctance element positioned between saidelectromagnetic means and said clutch release mechanism for operatingsaid clutch release mechanism when a predetermined signal condition isimpressed on said electromagnetic means, and means operated by theclutch controlled drive mechanism for successively moving said lowreluctance element past said selectively positionable elements insynchronism with the receipt of subsequent signal impulses in theelectromagnetic means.

8. A selector mechanism for telegraph recording apparatus comprising asingle selector magnetic means adapted to receive start-stop impulses ofpermutation code signals, a plurality of elements adapted to control theparticular type of function to be performed by a cycle of operation ofthe telegraph apparatus, a series of latches for holding the elements inposition, movably mounted paramagnetic means interposed between thelatches and the selector magnet, means for holding said paramagneticmeans from movement, means responsive to a start impulse for releasingsaid holding means, and means for moving said paramagnetic means pastsaid latches in unison with the receipt of the signal impulses whereuponreceipt of a signal impulse of one condition establishes a magneticfield through said paramagnetic member to release the associated latchand a signal impulse of another characteristic does not effectuate therelease of the associated latch.

9. In a selector mechanism for telegraph recording apparatus, a clutchcontrolled drive mechanism, a clutch release mechanism for holding saidclutch disengaged, a plurality of positionable members, a normallyenergized signal responsive means spaced from said clutch releasemechanism and said positionable members, a movably mounted paramagneticmember interposed between said signal responsive means and said clutchrelease mechanism to hold said clutch release mechanism in position todisengage the clutch, said clutch release mechanism being operated uponreceipt of a predetermined signal in said signal responsive means, meansoperated by the release of said clutch controlled drive mechanism formoving said paramagnetic member past each of said positionable members,and means for restoring said clutch release mechanism to stop saidclutch controlled drive mechanism.

10. In a selector mechanism for telegraph recording apparatus, a clutchcontrolled drive mechanism, a clutch release mechanism, a plurality ofpositionable elements, a movably mounted paramagnetic member positionedin register with said clutch release mechanism, means responsive to apredetermined signal impulse for actuating said clutch releasemechanism, means operated by said drive mechanism for successivelymoving said paramagnetic member in register with each positionablemember concurrently with the receipt of each signal impulse, and meansfor restoring said clutch release mechanism to a position to disengagethe clutch after said paramagnetic member passes the last positionablemember.

11. In a selector mechanism, a clutch controlled drive mechanism, aplurality of positionable elements, a clutch release device, a movablymounted paramagnetic memher positioned in register with said releasedevice, means responsive to a predetermined signal condition for boldingsaid clutch release device, said last mentioned means being responsiveto another predetermined signal condition for freeing said clutchrelease device, means operated by said drive mechanism for successivelymoving said paramagnetic member into register with each successivepositionable member, and cam means for moving said clutch release deviceback into position to disengage said clutch drive mechanism.

12. In a selector device, a U-shaped core, signal responsive windingswrapped around a first arm of said core, a plurality of positionablemembers in close proximity to the terminus of the second arm of saidcore and spaced from the terminus of the said first arm of the core toprovide an air gap therebetween, a low reluctance member mounted formovement through the air gap, means for moving said low reluctancemember through said air gap in timed relation to the receipt of signalimpulses in said windings and means controlled by the energization ofthe signal responsive windings and the low reluctance member forarresting the movement of the low reluctance member after it moves pastthe last of the positionable members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,898,762 Clokey Feb. 21, 1933 1,905,090 Grifiith Apr. 25, 19332,675,537 Cahill Apr. 13, 1954

